3Com reaches TippingPoint
Latest acquisition adds intrusion detection to vendor's enterprise product portfolio
Voice and data vendor 3Com has stepped into the security arena with its $400m acquisition of vendor TippingPoint.
Although the deal is not due to be finalised until March, 3Com said it will eventually incorporate all of the intrusion detection firm.
3Com told CRN that the deal supplements the offerings in its product portfolio, and claimed TippingPoint's customers will benefit from 3Com's global reach and infrastructure.
Steve Rust, senior director of business development at 3Com, said: "Over time [TippingPoint] will be incorporated into 3Com, but branding decisions have not yet been made. Jobs will be determined in the time leading up to the close of the deal, but we will be preserving and growing our staff.
"We will also retain and extend TippingPoint's existing market focus."
TippingPoint develops network-based intrusion prevention systems (IPS) that, according to 3Com, provide application, infrastructure and performance protection for various market sectors, such as government agencies.
"3Com has a very strong market presence and value-added services strength that will help bolster TippingPoint. We will be extending its channel reach and also retaining its existing partnerships," said Rust.
Kip McClanahan, chief executive of TippingPoint, said the acquisition will allow the company to expand its presence in the market.
"This is a real winner. It will accelerate our global market penetration," he said.
"What we've needed is reach, and our 3Com partnership gives us this."
Simon Thompson, sales director at distributor Westcon, said: "3Com has a very strong enterprise offering, and the addition of IPS helps broaden its product portfolio. IPS is the crest of a new wave and the next big thing.
"UK organisations now recognise the need to know about potential and current threats. This is what IPS is about, so 3Com obviously sees it as an area of future growth."